Rotating engine.



PATENTED OCT. 22. 1907 F. STRATTON.

ROTATING ENGINE- v APPLICATION FILED DBO. 6, 1906.

B'SHBETS-SHEET 1.

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K/imaw M m Ham1 Empf.

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PATENTED 061222. 1907.

F. STRATTON.

ROTATING ENGINE.

APPLIQATION FILED DBO. e. 190s.

s SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

. @MMM No. 869,032. PATENTBD 00122. 1907.

Y P. sTRATToN.

. ROTA'TING ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED D110. e, 190e.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED OCT. 22. 1907.

SHEETS-SHEET 4.

P. sTRATToN.

ROTATING ENGINE.

APPLIGATION FILED 1320.6, 1906I PATENTED 00T. 22, 1907.

No. 869.032.v

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a SHEETS- SHEET 5.

llIIglIllI/IIJ No. 869,032. PATENTED OCT. 22. 1907.` P. STRATTON.

RUTATING ENGINE.' APPLICATION FILED 1320.6, 1906.

8 SHEETS-SHEET` 6.

PATENTED 00T. 22. 1907.

P. STRATTON.

ROTATING ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED D1|(J.6.,1906.A

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

1HE NuRRls Permis co., WASHINGTON, nA c.

l N. 869,032, PATENT-ED 00T. 22. 1907.

P. STRA'TTON..

ROTATING ENGINE.

APPLIUATION FILED DBG. 6, 190B s SHEETS-SHEET 8.

H accessible to UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEieE.

FRANKLIN STRATTON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE STRATTONROTA'IING ENGINE COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF ARIZONATERRITORY.

ROTATING ENGINE Specification of Letters Patent. Application filedDecember 6,1906.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN STRATTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotating Engines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotating engines, such as are driven by steam,air, or other fluid agents, and which may be used as a pump when poweris applied thereto.

The primary object of my invention is the production of an engine of therotating type which is particularly adapted for use in a` traction-wheeland forms part thereof, and which serves to revolve said wheel.

Another object is to provide an engine which can be easily convertedinto a pump, by replacing the center valve with a similarly constructedvalve havingI larger ports so as to increase the capacity andeffectiveness of its pumping-action.

Another object is to provide an engine in which vibration and frictionare reduced to a minimum, and in which dead-centers are dispensed with.

Still further objects are, the production of an engine which iseconomical inl the use of the motive-power, compact and simple inconstruction, easily reversible, all parts, and well balanced, and alsoto improve the details of construction and operation so as to producepoints of advantage which will be amplified as they occur hereinafter.

With these and other objects in view, I have illustrated my invention ina representative way, the mechanical elements used in combination inpreferred form, being those now thought to be best adapted under theprinciple involved, in order to obtain the highest elliciency; and as Ido not only claim the combination of mechanical elements'herein shownand described, but claim the essential elements in any arrangement andconstruction adapted for use under the principle involved, it is to beunderstood that this invention can be embodied in various ways, whichwill be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the accompany ing drawings, my invention is illustrated for use as asteam-engine, but I do not wish to limit myself to such use, since air,gas or any other vapors may be used in propelling the engine; and ifdesired, power may be applied to adapt the same for use as a pump.

The invention consists in a plurality oi rotating piston-cylindersconstituting a spider and having pistons reciprocal therein, an inletand an exhaust for the motive power common to all cylinders, a fixedtrack or guide, and devices connected with the pistons to cause thespider to rotate when the motive power acts upon the pistons.

My invention further consists in the construction, arrangement andcombination of elements or parts to be hereinafter described andparticularly pointed out in y the appended claims.

In the drawings,-Figiue l is a side elevation of a traction-wheelshowing my invention embodied therein, part of a running gear of avehicle being shown in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof my improved engine showing the same adapted for stationary use. Fig.3 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a front elevation showingthe engine inclosed within a casing, the lower portion of which is shownin section. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken just outside of thespider and its rollers and through one cam. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectiontaken through the center of all the cylinders. Fig. 7 is a verticalsection taken at right angles to the plane of Fig. 6. Figs. 8 and 9 arepartial sections in the same plane as that of Fig. 6. Figs. l0 and Ilare side elevations of the spider viewed from opposite sides. Fig. l2 isan edge view and Fig. I3 a vertical section through the spider and itstrunnion. Fig. I4 is a perspective detail of the trunnion. Fig. I5 is avertical section through the casing. Fig. I6 is a section through Fig.I5 on the line 16-16. Fig'. I7 is an enlarged sectional detail showingthe catch in the casing. Figs. I8 and I9 are side and edge views of thelink mechanisms for connecting the pistons in pairs. Fig. 20 is adisconnected edge view of one of the linkmembers of one of thelink-mechanisms. Fig. 2l is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. IS.Fig. 22 is a section on the line 22-22 of Fig. 2. Fig. 23 is aperspective detail of the cam. Fig. 24 is a side elevation of the same.Fig. 25 is a perspective detail of the regulating-valve.

Referring to the drawings in detail, corresponding numerals of referencerefer to corresponding parts in the several iigures.

Reference being had to Fig. I, the numeral I designates the running-gearof a vehicle, and 2 a tractionwheel journaled to revolve in saidrunning-gear. Wheel 2 comprises the wheel-felly 3 having suitable tires4. and inwardly directed lugs 5 to which are connected lugs 6 extendingfrom the engine, designated 7, which serves as the hub of the wheel.

When used as a stationary engine, standards S are provided, as shown inFigs. 2 to 7, in which the engine is supported. It is apparent that therunning-gear shown in Fig. l or the standards just referred to, mustserve to support the engine and both carry boxes 9 which support thehollow hubs l0 of two cams or roller guides Il (see Figs. 7 and 23),which hubs form the bearing for a hollow trunnion I2 on which therevolving spider or cylinder-body 13 is supported. Said spider orcylinder-body is preferably cast in the shape best shown in Figs. 10,11. and 12, with details of construction which will be described below',and transversely through its thickened hub is drilled an axial helehaving radial recesses 14 in one end of the hub an d an annular recess15 in the other end. The trunnion is preferably of tool steel, and isforced tightly into this hole. 1t has exterior wings 1G which fit intothe radial recesses 14, and exterior threads 17 at a proper point on itsbody so that when the wings fit accurately into the recesses, a collar1S can be screwed onto the thread and into the annular recess 15,thereby rmly and yet removably centering the trunnion within the castingand affording a steel shaft upon which the whole can revolve within thehollow hubs ot' the cams. This l consider an important feature of myinvention. because it simplifies and cheapens the construction, permitsthe wearing parts to be made of steel, and also utilizes steel for thoseparts which must be accurately made or provided with ports.

The spider 13 contains four radial cylinders 20 notched at their outerends, as at 2l, and within these cylinders are located properly packedpistons 22 h av i ng (,ugtwardly projecting piston-rods 23. A t theo'uter ends of the latter are cross-heads 24 projecting tlnough saidnotches 21 andconnected in dametric pairs, as best seen in Figs. 5, 1Sand 19. Each end of each ci osshead carries an inwardly and laterallycurved arm 25 (all the arlns curving in one direction from thepistonrods), and between the inner ends of each pair of arms issupported a box 2G having an opening which slides on a guide rod 27. Thelatter is preferably square and of steel,and its reduced inner end isstepped in a socket 2S in the spider near the hub of the latter', itsbody standing parallel with the adjacent cylinder7 and its reduced outerend is held in place by a nut 29 screwed into a threaded opening in thespider-see Fig. t5. This view shows the box 26 as a single member havingan opening through it for the guide-rod, but in Figs. 1S to 22 half theopening is formed in the outer tace ot the box and a plate 30 is screwedor bolted to the box and forms the other half of the openingthuspermitting the replacing of parts which may become worn. l consider theremovability of the guide rods 2T an important feature of my invention,because they can readily be removed or replaced by taking off the casingdescribed below, unscrewing the nuts 29, and withdrawing the rodsbodily. Also, any one of the boxes can then be removed withoutdisconnecting other parts of the machine than those attached to it.

Links 32 connect oppositeboxes in pairs, there being preferably two ofthese links on each side of the spider. 1n Fig. 5 the two upright linksare shown moving astride the trunnion and bei ind the caln, and it willbe understood that the other two links, which atthis time standhorizontal, connect the other two boxes on the other side of thespider-hence one pair of links does not interfere with the operation ofthe other. ly preference each link takes through an ear 33 formed on onebox, in which it is adjustable between nuts 34 on either side of theear', while the opposite end of the link is integral with the oppositebox 26 in which one of two stub shafts 3G is journaled to revolve. 1fdesired the links may be separate and provided with eyes through whichsaid stub shafts may project. On said i t l i stirb shafts are journaledrollers 37 which travel on the active faces of the cams ll. l havedescribed and shown stub shafts and rollers on beth sides of each box,and cams at both sides ofthe machine; but it is possible that one camand one set of rollers could be omitted entirely, although I prefer theconstruction shown because it prevents the cramping of the boxes on theguide-rods.

The casing which incloses the spider is best shown in Figs. 4, 15, and16, and is indicated in dotted lilies in Fig. 2. lt comprises an annularrim section 40 having internally projecting lugs 41 adapted to be boltedto the lugs G on the spider 13 of the engine', two end plates 43 whoseperipheries tit theaxial ends of said section and whose centers haveopenings 44 of sufficient size to loosely inclose the hubs of the cams;and bayonet-joints 45 by which the end pla-tes are connected with theinterposed rim section. 1n assembling the parts, after the bayonet-jointelements have been connected, a catch (best shown in Fig. 17 may beemployed to prevent them from becoming disconnected. This consists of astud 4G projecting inward from the rim section, and a spring-pressedbolt 47 carried by the end plate and whose tip engages behind the studafter the end plate has been turned so that the bayonet-joint membersare engaged. invention, because it permits the readyremoval of thecasing when access to the interior mechanism is desired, it holds thepart of the casing in place against all ordinary vibration; and itprovides a catch and a bayonet-joint which do so hold the partsconnected and which permit their instantaneous disconnection whenrequired.

The regulating-valve, best shown in Figs. G, 7, and 25 is a tubularmember exteriorly shaped to fit the interior of the trunnion 12. Thelatter (Figs. 7 and 13) is formed with a large bore 4S at its outletend, a smaller bore 49 at its inlet end, and an intermediatetaperedportion 50 through which are cut four radial ports 5l, theextremities of the trunnion being internally threaded for the receptionof the nipples 52 and packing to make a tight joint around the tubularvalve, designated 53. 1t will be understood that the latter is normallystationary while the trunnion revolves. The valve 5?) has at its largerend a thread 54 for receiving nuts 55, between which and the nipple 51there are ball-bearings 56', and it has at its smaller end similarthreads 540 for nuts which adjust ball-bearings 560 against the nippleat the other end of the trunnion; an adjustinggear (5() being hereinterposed as described below. At opposite ends of the valve arestufiing-boxes 57, one connected with the inlet 58 and the other withthe outlet 59 so as to permit the valve to rotate while the inlet andoutlet remain stationary. Gear 60, fixed on the valve as abovementioned, is engaged by a sector G1 having a handle 62, and the sectoris pivoted on a pin o?) projecting from the forward standards on thestationary engine, and from the running gear in the application of theengine shown in Fig. 1', the construction being such that when thehandle is moved, the sector will turn the gear and the valve. Within itstapered portion the latter' is provided with an oblique partition (S4,on opposite sides of which are the inlet port and the outlet port (5G,both arranged so that they register with the port 51 in the trunnion 12than which they are l consider this an important feature of my j ofgreater length so that the valve may be adjusted longitudinally Withinthe trunnion to take up Wear between these parts. I consider this animportant detail of my invention, because it permits the adjustment oithe valve to take up Wear or its longitudinal removal for repair vorsubstitution both Without disconnecting other parts of the machine. Thevalve may well be made of tool steel to prevent its rapidly Wearingaway, and if the size and the shape of parts therein are to be changed,it can be done by removing the valve only. Moreover, as described belowthe manipulation of a single lever which oscillates this valve withinthe tiunnion is sufficient to start or stop the engine, to drive itforward or backward, and to drive it at variable speeds; and this also Iconsider an important feature of the invention.

In operation, the steam is admitted through a cock (not shown) and letinto the inlet 58, whence it fiows through the valve and by thepartition therein is directed ont through the port 65. Ii the valve isset as shown in Fig. 6 so that this port is directed toward the shortestdiameter of the cams, the engine will stand at rest; but by turning thevalve in either direction while the cams remain stationary, the enginewill be caused to rotate in that direction and at a speed proportionateto the degree to which the valve is turned', hence the manipulation of asingle handle such as that numbered 62, Will start or stop the engine,will drive it in either direction, and Will control the speed. In Figs.8 and 9 the valve' is shown as turned with respect to the camsA Theresult is that the inflowing steam passes out the inlet port 65, andthrough one ol the ports 5l in the trunnion when that port registerswith the inlet port 65. Entering the cylinder, it moves the pistonoutward, and through the links this piston causes the opposite piston tomove inward, while the exhaust steam in the opposite cylinder passesthrough the opposite port 5l in the trunnion, through the outlet port 66in the valve, and ont the exhaust 59. Because the outlet end oi thevalve is made oi larger diameter than the inlet end, the exhaustingsteam has a chance l'or expansion without retarding the rotation of theengine. As the opposite pistons move as just described, their rollersimpinge against the active faces oi the cams and pi'oduce the rotationof the spider in a manner which will be clear, the direction of rotationdepending upon the direction in which the valve has been turned, and thespeed of rotation depending upon the degree to which the valve has beenturned. It will be clear that by setting the cams upon the trunnion, theproper lead can be secured so that the engine will take in its livesteam and exhaust its dead steam at points which will secure the highesteiiiciency olf action.

At diametrically opposite points, or approximately so, the active iaceoi' each cam is concentric with respect to the trunnion of the spider onwhich it is mounted, said concentric portions being in arcs ol' circlesof different diameters and serve to cause a meinentary. cessation ofmovement oi the pistons. These concentric portions are connected byeccentric or cam portions which cause the pistons to travel within thecylinders when the rollers ride over the latter. The cams are so affixedto the support that when the rollers ride over their concentricportions, opposite pistons are at their outer and inner limits ottravel, respec- V tively. This provides for the free escape of thefluidagent from the exhaust and consequently assures lree action andhigh eliiciency.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,

l. In an engine or the like, the combination with a rotating elementhaving a plurality of radially disposed cylinders of a valve aroundwhich said rotating element rotates, a piston reciprocal in eachcylinder, a fixed guide, and connections between opposite pistons andbetween the pistons and said guide.

2. 1n an engine or the like, the combination with a plurality ofradially disposed rotating piston-cylinders, of a valve around whichsaid cylinders rotate, a piston reciprocal in each cylinder, a fixedguide, and link-mechanism having' connection with opposite pistons andbeing guided oli said guides.

Ji. In an engine or the like, the combination with a plurality ofrotating piston-cylinders, o1 a valve around which the cylinders rotate,a piston reciprocal in each c vlinder and having a piston-rod, means forconnecting' the pistons in pairs, and a fixed cam or guide over whichsaid connecting-means travel to govern the movement of the pistons andthe rotation ot the cylinders.

si. In an engine, the combination with a spider having a plurality ofradially disposed piston-cylinders, of a wheel-rim connected to saidspider, a valve controlling the admission ot the duid-agent to andtheexhaust ther-coi from said cylinders, a piston reciprocal in eachcylinder. fixed guiding-means, and connections with the pistonstraveling around said guiding-means and governing the movements or' thepiston and the rotation of the spider.

5. The combination with a support, of a hollow valve having aninlet-port and an exhaust-port, a fixed cani or guide held on saidsupport, a spider rotatable on said valve and having radially disposedcylinders with ports al; their inner ends for the admission land exhausto1" the fluidagent, pistons connected in tandem and reciprocal withinthe cylinders, and means on the connections of' said pistons co-actingwith said cam or guide to govern -the Inovement of the pistons and therotation of the spider.

G. In a rotating-engine, the combination with a support, oi' ahollow-valve having an inlet and an exhaust, a spider rotatable aroundsaid valve and having a plurality of cylinders and a hollow trunnionextending from opposite sides thereof", a fixed cani or guide on eachside of the spider through which said hollow shaft extends, pi" :ons

reciprocal in said cylinders, connectionsito said pi is guided on saidcam or guide, and means ior adjusting the valve to position the inletthereof in line with the vertical center ol. the engine or to eithersides oi' the vertical center, for the purpose described.

T. In a rotating-engine, the combination with a support. of ahollow-valve having an inlet and an exhaust, a spider rotatable aroundsaid valve and having a plurality of cvlinders and a hollow trunnionextending from opposite sides thereof, a fixed cam or guide on each sideof the spider through which said trunnion extends, pistons reciprocal insaid cylinders, link-mechanisms connecting le pistons in tandem andhaving rollers adapted to travel on said cam or guide, and means foroscillating the valv within said spider to regulate the speed thereof",to govern the direction or rotation ol said spider, and to stop theengine.

S. In a rotating engine, the combination of a spider having radiallydisposed cylinders, a hollow center valve having its axis coincidentwith the axis of said spider, a fixed cani, pistons reciprocal in saidcylinders, mechanism connecting the pistons in pairs and having rollersriding around said cani or guide, and means for guiding said mechanismon the spider.

il. In a rotating engine, the combination ol a spider havingpiston-cylinders connected by webs and a hollow trunnion extending fromopposite sides of said spider, a tubular valve within said shaft andarranged to admit the fluidagent to and exhaust the same from thecylinders, fixed cams on opposite sides of the spider through which saidhollow trunnion passes, pistons reciprocal in said cylinders, alink-mechanism on each side of. the spider connecting eoiso incidentpistons and having a roller adapted to travel around said cam, andguides on said spider for guiding the link-mcchanisms.

1U. In a rotating engine, the combination ot a rotating spider havingradially disposed cylinders and a center hollow trunnion taperedinternally at a point between the cylinders to provide a taperedvalve-seat, a hollow-valve in said trunnion having a correspondinglytapered portion tilting the valve-seat and having also an inlet-port andan exhaust-port, means tor movingl the valve lengthwise, means l'orrotating said valve, a lixed cam or guide, pistons reciprocal in saidcylinders, and connections to the pistons adapted to travel around saidcam or guide.

l1. ln a rotating-engine, the combination ot a rotating spider having acenter bore and a plurality of radially disposed cylinders, a guide-rodparallel with each c vlinder, a hollow valve in the bore ot the spiderhaving an inletport and an exhaust-port, a tixed cam or guide on eachside oi' the spider, ypistons reciprocal in the cylinders, mechanismconnecting the pistons in pairs and having` boxes fitting saidguide-rods, a shaft in each box, and rollers on said shal't. adapted totravel around said cams or guides.

12. ln a rotating-engine, the combination ot a rotating spider having acenter bore and a plurality ot radially disposed cylinders connected bywebs, a hollow valve in the bore ol' the spider having an inlet-port andan exhaustport, a lixed cam or guide on each side ot the spider, aguide-rod parallel with each cylinder and removably secured to thespider, pistons re-iprocal in the cylinde s. and mechanism connectingthe pistons in pairs and having boxes littingl said guide-rods, a shat'tin each ot' said boxes, rollers on said shafts adapted to travel aroundsaid cams or guides, a gear atlixed to the hollow-valve, and a handlehaving a segment-gear in mesh with the gear o1' the valve.

l. in a rotating-engine, the combination with a spider having acenter-bore and Iadially disposed cylinders, a hollow-valve in said borehaving an inlet-port and an exhaust-port, means tor rotating said valve,a lixed cam or guide, pistons re u'ocal in said cylinders and eachhaving a piston-rod, link-connections on the outside ot the spiderhaving each connection with the piston-rods ot' opposite pistons. androllers carried on said link-connections and adapted to travel aroundsaid cam or guide.

1-tA ln a rotating-engine, the combination with a spider ot' cast metalhaving cylinders therein and a central axial hole therethrough, pistonsin said cylinder and means for driving them by the {luid-agent; ot' asteel trunnion iitting tightly into said hole, means t'or holding thetrunnion within the spider, and ports t'or the admi on and exhaust ol'the duid-agent.

ing w adapted to engage said radial recesses and an exteriorcrew-tln'c:ul at a proper point, a collar on said tl'ir ad adapted toenter said annular recess, and ports for the admission and exhaust otthe duid-agent.

lli. In a rotating-engine. the combination with a spider having radialcylinders. pistons and piston-rods therein. and a trunnion and valve toradmitting and exhausting the iluid agent to and trom said cylinders: ol'guide-rods supported in the spider parallel with the cylinders, boxesmoving on the guide-rods, and connections between the boxes andpiston-rods.

1T, ln a rotating-engine, the combination with a spider having cylinderpistons and piston-rods therein, and a truanion and valve for admittingand exhausting the, fluidagent to and from said cylinders; of guide-rodsparallel with the cylinders, sockets in the spider in which the innerends ot said rods are stepped, nuts in the spider by which the outerends ot. said rods are supported. boxes moving on the guide-rods, andconnections between the boxes and piston-rods,

1S, In a rotating-engine, the combination with a spider having radialcylinders, pistons and piston-rods therein,

and a trunnion and valve for admitting 'the fluid-agent to and from saidcylinders; o1' guide-rods supported in the spider parallel with thecylinders, boxes connected with the piston-rods and having pa ralopenings moving on the guide rods, and plates detachably connected withthe boxes andA having complementary openings moving on said guide-rods.

1E). In a rotating-engine, the combination with a spider having fourcylinders, pistons and piston-rods therein` cross-heads on said rods,and boxes connected with the cross-heads; of links connecting theopposite boxes in pairs, the links which connect one pair ot boxes beingon one side ot the spider' opposite trom those which connect the otherpair ot' boxes, and a valve for the admission and exhaust ot thefluid-agent to and from said cylinders.

2t). In a rotatingl engine, the combination with a spider having tourcylinders, pistons and piston-rods therein, and boxes connected withsaid rods; ot' a trnnnion on which the spider rotates, a valve thereinfor the admission and exhaust'. ot the [luid-agent to and from saidcylinders, and links connecting the opposite boxes in pairs, the linkswhich connect one pair of boxes being on one side ot the spider'opposite from those which connect the other pair of boxes.

21. In a rotating engine, the combination with a spider having fourcylinders, pistons and piston-rods therein, and boxes connected withsaid rods, of a trnnnion on which the spider rotates, a valve thereinfor the admission and exhaust o1' the lluid-agent to and from saidcylinders, and links connecting the opposite boxes in pairs, the linkswhich connect one pair o1 box s being `opposite from those which connectthe other pair ot boxes, iixed cams in which the trunnion rotates, androllers on the boxes traveling on thc active faces oi said cams, eachpair of links standing astride said trunnion,

22A In a rotating engine, the combination with a spider having [ourcylinders, pistons and piston-rods therein, and boxes connected withsaid rods, each box having stub shafts at one side ot the piston-rod andan ear at the other side; ot a trunnion on which the spider is secured,a valve therein for admitting and exhausting the tluidagent, non-rotary'ams on said trunnion, rollers secured on the stub shat't and travelingon the active faces of the cams, and a link connecting each box with theear on the box diametrically opposite.

23. In a rotating-engine, the combination with a spider having tourcylinders, pistons and piston-rods therein, and boxes connected withsaid rods, each box having stub shafts at one side oi' the piston rodand an ear at the other side; of a trunnion on which the spider issecured, a valve therein I'or admitting and exhausting the Iluidagent,non-rotary cams on said trunnion, rollers journaled on the boxes andtraveling on the active faces of the cams. and a link connecting eachbox with the ear on the box diametrieally opposite, each link passing toone side ot said trunnion and heilig threaded where it extends throughthe ear, and nuts on the threaded portion at each side of the ear, i'orthe purpose set forth.

24. In a rotating-engine, the combination with a rotary spider and itscylinders and pistons, a valve i'or admitting the tluid-agent to andexhausting it lfrom said cylinders, and cams with which said pistonsco-act, of a casing comprising a rim member attached to the spider, andend plates det'achably connected with the rim member and having openingssurrounding the hubs oi' d cams.

25. in a rotating-engine, the combination with a rotary spider and itscylinders and pistons, a `alve for admitting the iluid-agent to andexhausting it from said cylinders, and cams with which said pistonsco-act', of a lasing colnprising a rim member surrounding the spider,end plates havinopenings surrounding the hubs of the cams, andbayonet-joints detachably connecting said plates and rim-member.

2G. In a rotating-engine, the combination with a rotary spider and itscylinders and pistons, a valve for admitting thc Huid-agent to andexhausting it from said cylinders, and cams with which said pistonsco-act; of a casing comprising a rim member surrounding the spider, endplates having openings surrounding the hubs of the cams, del tachableconnections between said end plates and rim its cylinders, a tubularvalve-.within the trunnion and having inlet and with member, and catchesfor holding those parts together after the connections are engaged.

27. In a rotating-engine, the combination with a spider havingcylinders, pistons therein, rollers connected with the pistons, andfixed cams Whose active faces engage said rollers; of a trunnionjournaled in said cams and fast in the spider and having portscommunicating with its cylinders, a tubular valve outlet ports, nippleson the trunnion, ball-bearings interposed between the nipples and nuts,an inlet and an outlet connected with opposite ends'oi said valve, andmeans for setting the latter with respect to the position of the cams.

30, In a rotating engine, the combination with a spider havingcylinders, pistons therein, rollers connected with the pistons, camsengaging' trunnion fixed through the spider and journaled in the cams,the bore of the trunnion being tapered Where it passes through thespider there provided with ports leading' into said cylinders; of atubular valve located within the trunnion and having a tapered portiontting the similar portion of the trunnion and provided with in saidtrunnion, ports, and means for setting the valve with respect to thepositions of the cams.

28. In a rotating-engine, the combination with a spider havingcylinders, pistons therein, rollers connected with the pistons, andfixed cams whose active faces engage said rollers; fast in the spiderand having its cylinders, a tubular valve having inlet and outlet portsports communicating with within the trunnion and adapted to registerwith the gear, and means for moving the sector to set the with respectto the position of the cams.

29. In a rotatingengine, the combination with a spider having cy1inders,pistons therein, rollers connected with Whose active faces engage saidrollers; of a trunnion journaled in said cams and fast in the spider andhaving ports communicating with In testimony whereof. I have presence oftwo subscribing aiilxed my signature in the Witnesses.

FRANKLIN STRATTON.

said rollers, and a tubular'

